Brandy warmer &amp; server

ABSTRACT

A movable frame, including a heater support, which is connected to a stand for holding a brandy snifter above a heater. The stand holds both the stem and goblet portions of the snifter at an angle with respect to the heater for warming a greater surface area of the goblet. The snifter is rotatably mounted in the stand for warming the entire goblet and the brandy in the goblet. The frame may include either wheels or skids and the stand holds goblets of different sizes.

United States Patent 1 1 [111 3,782,361 Hagen Jan. 1, 1974 BRANDY WARMER & SERVER [76] Inventor: Fred Hagen, 3351/2 8. Water St.,

Marine City Mich 48039 Attorney-Bernard J. Cantor [22] Filed: Apr. 23, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 353,344

A movable frame, including a heater support, which is connected to a stand for holding a brandy snifter [52] US. Cl l. 126/43, 248/153 above a heater The Stand holds both the Stem and [Sl] Illt. Cl. F240 3/08 goblet portions of the ft at an angle with respect [58] Field of Search 126/43, 260; to the heater for warming a greater surface area of the 248/146 153 goblet. The snifter is rotatably mounted in the stand for warming the entire goblet and the brandy in the [56] References C'ted goblet. The frame may include either wheels or skids UNITED STATES PATENTS and the stand holds goblets of different sizes.

1,277,872 9/1918 Crane 126/43 2,8l4,286 11/1957 Arnold 126/43 6 Clams 8 Drawmg 1 BRANDY WARMEIR & SERVER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Brandy and other liqueurs are served in drinking glasses known as snifters. Connoisseurs of fine brandies have discovered that the aroma and taste of the brandy are enhanced if the brandy is served slightly warmed. This is typically accomplished by the heat of the drinkers hands placed around the snifter. This has not been totally satisfactory for several reasons.

First, hand heat is not adequate to quickly bring up the temperature of the snifter and its contents or to maintain the temperature desired.

Second, after several sips of the brandy, the time interval during which the brandy is sipped permits the brandy to cool down below the desired drinking temperature. Hence, the snifter must be hand held continuously to keep it warm.

The invention herein relates to an improved brandy warmer and server wherein both the brandy and snifter are warmed to and are maintained at a palatable temperature while the brandy is being sipped.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention herein relates to a brandy warmer and server having a frame upon which the snifter may be held at an angle to the vertical, and including a support to hold a heater and wheels or skids for moving the frame. The heater may be of the alcohol burning type and is supported by the frame above the surface of a bar or table where a patron is being served, to avoid damaging this surface. A stand is connected to the frame for holding the snifter above the heater and at an angle thereto to provide forwarming a greater surface area of the snifter. The snifter may be rotated manually in the stand for warming the entire snifter and its contents. The warmer may be moved on its wheels or on its skids to the patron after it has been initially warmed by the bartender.

The support for the front of the snifter may comprise two springy wires which may be held together by a retaining ring in one of several positions to accommodate snifters of different sizes. The wires have a notch at suitable locations based upon the sizes of the snifter to be held and the retaining ring has an internal bump or protrusion to engage a notch in the wire. Thus, the front of the stand may be held open in one of several positions to accommodate snifters of different sizes.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following detailed descrip tion taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify corresponding parts:

FIG. l is a perspective illustration of the brandy warmer and server of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the brandy warmer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the brandy wamer and server of FIG. 2 taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of a second embodiment of the brandy warmer and server;

FIG. 5 is a partial illustration of the adjustable support stand for the brandy snifter;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The brandy warmer and server 10 of the present invention may be utilized to warm brandy located in a brandy snifter 12. Typically, the brandy snifter includes a pedestal or base 14, a stem 16 and a goblet portion 18. The goblet portion 18 conventionally commences at the stem and tapers or enlarges outwardly and up wardly to a maximum circumference portion and then tapers inwardly to an open top which may be circular or may have a spout 20.

The brandy warmer and server 10 includes a frame 22 which, in a first embodiment, supports a pair of wheels 24. The frame includes a ring or support 26 in which a heater 28 is mounted. The heater may be an alcohol burning type having a wick 30 or may be any other small heater including a candle or a can of Sterno. The ring 26 is located high enough to keep the heat generated by the heater from damaging a table top, the top of a bar, or any other surface upon which the wheels 24 may rest.

The brandy warmer and server includes a stand 32 for supporting the snifter above the heater 28. The stand includes a rear portion 34 which is connected to the frame 22 and has a base 36 which rests on the table top or other supporting surface for the warmer and server 10. The rear portion 34 of the stand curves downward to the base and then upward terminating in an upwardly extending fork or yoke 38 to engage the stem 16 of the snifter. The stand further includes a front portion 40 which extends upward and has a curved yoke 42 which engages the goblet portion 18 of the snifter.

It must be appreciated that the yoke 38 is much smaller since it receives the stern while the yoke 42 has a greater radius of curvature to receive the larger gob let. The stand is so positioned that the brandy snifter is held at a slight angle with respect to the warmer. This prevents the liquid 43 (see dotted lines, FIG. 2) from spilling out of the snifter.

The arrangement of the yokes 38 and 42 permits the snifter to be manually rotated. This provides for a more thorough heating of not only the goblet portion 18 but of also the brandy or liqueur within the snifter. The ability to rotate the goblet is also important since the constant application of heat to one spot on the goblet could cause damage and breaking.

When it is desired to serve the slightly warmed brandy to the patron, a bartender or other person serving the brandy lifts the warmer and server with the snifter therein by a portion 44 of the rear of the stand. Lifting the rear portion 44 of the stand 34 slightly in this manner, the warmer and server may be moved or rolled to the patron. Since it is known that the warmer and server will be lifted in this fashion, it is all the more important that the snifter 12 be at an angle in the stand. Otherwise, upon lifting the rear of the stand, the contents of the snifter would, of course, spill out.

Once the patron has received the warmer and server 10 with the brandy snifter in the stand, he may continue to rotate the snifter manually while imbibing in the brandy. As long as the patron places the snifter back in the stand, he is assured of the brandy maintaining its warmth. When there is very little brandy left, the angle of the snifter still provides for maintaining this brandy warm since the lowermost portion of the goblet 18 is closest to the heater 28.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the warmer and server 10 including skis 45 having front curved portions 46. These skis are secured to the frame 22 much in the same way that the wheels 24 are secured to the frame.

If the patron is seated at a table which has some sort of a tablecloth, it is known that upon sliding an object across the table, the tablecloth may bunch up. The benefit of having the curved portion 46 on the ski 45 is to prevent entangling the ski in the bunched-up portion of the tablecloth. Of course, if a flat table without a tablecloth were utilized, a curved portion 46 would not be necessary.

Connoisseurs of brandy are aware that brandy snifters come in various sizes. To accommodate these different sized snifters, the present invention includes an adjustable front portion 40 for the stand 32. This is illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 8 where the front portion 40 is manufactured of two wires 47 and 48 of a springy material. These wires have notches such as at 50 and at 52 to accommodate different size snifters.

A retaining ring 54 having an internal bump 56 is slipped over the wires. When a large brandy snifter is utilized, the retaining ring 54 is slid downwardly until the internal bump engages the lowest notch 50. The springy wires 47, 48 are spread apart to provide a support surface for the goblet portion of the snifter.

When a smaller brandy snifter is to be utilized, the retaining ring 54 is slid upwardly until the bump 56 engages the notch 52. At this time, there is a smaller curved surface on the top of the wires 47, 48 to receive the goblet portion of a smaller brandy snifter. Furthermore, the retaining ring 54 is higher on the wires 46 and 48 for a smaller snifter to increase the angle at which the snifter rests within the stand. This is necessary because if a small snifter rests in the stand at the same angle as a larger snifter, there is a likelihood that some of the brandy may be spilled out of the snifter when the warmer and server is moved.

The foregoing is a description of an operative embodiment of the present invention and should not be taken in a restrictive sense but only as explaining the underlying inventive concepts. The invention may be further developed within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. For use with a brandy snifter or the like which has a pedestal, a short stern and a goblet portion which tapers upwardly and outwardly from the stem and then inwardly to an open top, a brandy warmer and server comprising:

a frame adapted to be conveniently moved while in contact with the surface of a bar or table,

said frame including a heater support, the support for maintaining the heater slightly above the surface of the bar to avoid damage thereto from heat supplied by the heater; and

stand means connected to the frame for holding the brandy snifter, said stand having a rear portion for holding the snifter at its stem and a front portion for holding the snifter at its goblet, said stand means holding the snifter above the heater and at an angle thereto for warming a greater surface area of said goblet,

said brandy snifter being rotatable on said stand for warming substantially the entire circumference of said goblet portion;

whereby upon warming the brandy, the frame and heater and stand may be moved together with the snifter to the brandy drinker without removing the heat from the brandy.

2. The construction as in claim 1 wherein:

said frame includes a plurality of wheels mounted on axles for rolling the warmer and server along said bar; and

the rear portion of said stand rests on the surface of said bar for preventing inadvertent rolling of said warmer and server.

3. The construction as in claim 1 wherein:

said frame has a skid for slidably moving the warmer and server along said bar or table,

said skid having a leading edge which curves slightly upward,

whereby the curved leading edge prevents the skid from becoming entangled in objects placed on the table.

4. The construction as in claim 1 wherein:

the front portion of said stand includes two wires of a springy material, said wires adapted to be spread apart to hold different size goblets, at least one of said wires having a notch in its outer surface; and

a retaining ring slidably mounted on said wires, said ring having an internal raised portion for engaging said notch;

whereby the front portion of said stand may be held in one of a plurality of positions by said raised portion of said ring engaging a notch, such that the stand holds snifters of varying sizes without spilling the brandy.

5. The construction as in claim 4 wherein:

said frame includes a plurality of wheels for rolling the warmer and server along said bar; and

the rear portion of said stand rests on the surface of said bar for preventing inadvertent rolling of said warmer and server.

6. The construction as in claim 4 wherein:

said frame includes a skid for slidably moving the warmer and server along said bar or table;

said skid having a leading edge which curves slightly upward,

whereby the curved leading edge prevents the skid from catching upon objects or coverings placed on the table. 

1. For use with a brandy snifter or the like which has a pedestal, a short stem and a goblet portion which tapers upwardly and outwardly from the stem and then inwardly to an open top, a brandy warmer and server comprising: a frame adapted to be conveniently moved while in contact with the surface of a bar or table, said frame including a heater support, the support for maintaining the heater slightly above the surface of the bar to avoid damage thereto from heat supplied by the heater; and stand means connected to the frame for holding the brandy snifter, said stand having a rear portion for holding the snifter at its stem and a front portion for holding the snifter at its goblet, said stand means holding the snifter above the heater and at an angle thereto for warming a greater surface area of said goblet, said brandy snifter being rotatable on said stand for warming substantially the entire circumference of said goblet portion; whereby upon warming the brandy, the frame and heater and stand may be moved together with the snifter to the brandy drinker without removing the heat from the brandy.
 2. The construction as in claim 1 wherein: said frame includes a plurality of wheels mounted on axles for rolling the warmer and server along said bar; and the rear portion of said stand rests on the surface of said bar for preventing inadvertent rolling of said warmer and server.
 3. The construction as in claim 1 wherein: said frame has a skid for slidably moving the warmer and server along said bar or table, said skid having a leading edge which curves slightly upward, whereby the curved leading edge prevents the skid from becoming entangled in objects placed on the table.
 4. The construction as in claim 1 wherein: the front portion of said stand includes two wires of a springy material, said wires adapted to be spread apart to hold different size goblets, at least one of said wires having a notch in its outer surface; and a retaining ring slidably mounted on said wireS, said ring having an internal raised portion for engaging said notch; whereby the front portion of said stand may be held in one of a plurality of positions by said raised portion of said ring engaging a notch, such that the stand holds snifters of varying sizes without spilling the brandy.
 5. The construction as in claim 4 wherein: said frame includes a plurality of wheels for rolling the warmer and server along said bar; and the rear portion of said stand rests on the surface of said bar for preventing inadvertent rolling of said warmer and server.
 6. The construction as in claim 4 wherein: said frame includes a skid for slidably moving the warmer and server along said bar or table; said skid having a leading edge which curves slightly upward, whereby the curved leading edge prevents the skid from catching upon objects or coverings placed on the table. 